Stampede in Manila kills at least 74 people

February 05, 2006

MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- Officials said a stampede that killed at least 74 people occurred as thousands of people lined up Saturday outside a stadium near Manila to watch a TV game show surged toward the gates in the mistaken belief they were open. More than 500 people were injured. About 30,000 people were waiting to get inside the Philsports Arena for the show "Wowowee" when the stampede occurred, said Vicente Eusebio, the mayor of suburban Pasig, where the stampede occurred. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who visited the injured in hospitals, ordered authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report to her in 72 hours. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said 74 people were killed, including a person who died of massive bleeding more than 12 hours after the stampede; 514 were injured. Survivors said the game show was to include a raffle with a jackpot equivalent to $384. "The raffle tickets can be obtained at the gate so everyone was in a hurry. There was pushing and people in front of the gate were crushed," said Myrna Britania, 42, who spent all night in line. "People at the back of the line were pushing, not knowing there were already people dead lying on the ground in front." The game show, organized by ABS-CBN TV network, is popular in the Philippines because it offers big prizes, like cars and money. Some people had lined up for two days to get tickets.